Respirator



(No Model.)

H. A. STEWART.

RESPIRATOR.

Patented June 12,1883.

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UNITED STATES HELEN A. STEVVART,'OF CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

"RESPIRATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 279.200, dated June 12, 1883,

Application filed March 12, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HELEN A. STEWART, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Concord, in the county of Merrimac and State of New Hampshire, have invented a new and Improved Respirator; and I hereby declare the following to be a full and clear description thereof.

The object of, this invention is to prevent the passage of dust of any sort, smoke, steam, disagreeable odors, or any like matter or substances which may be alike unpleasant andinjurious, into the lungs by filtering and moistening the air which we breath;v and the means employed for this purpose consists of an ordi nary sponge, which is held overthe mouth and nostrils of the wearer by means of a wire net work holder of suitable shape, and secured in position by an elastic tape passed around the head, or by means of light wires extending from either end of said sponge-holder far enough to reach and rest overthe top of the ears,provided with water-receptacles so arranged as to keep a constant supply of water for the sponge in such quantity as may be readily absorbed, and the sponge will be kept moist for hours.

I will here refer to the accompanying draww ings, forming part of this specification, of which Figure 1 represents the improved respirator as applied to the face, and supplied with the water tanks or receptacles and the elastic tape passed around the head. Fig. 2 shows the manner of constructing the sponge-holder forming part of my improved respirator.

A represents the wire sponge-holder, the

rim of which is so shaped as to fit closely over the tip or lower part of the nose, and extend far enough downward to simply cover the mouth. r

B represents the-sponge. From either end of the rim of said holder A will be attached the fastenings 0, upon which are .secured the water-tanks D, which may be made of either metal or rubber, and be easily supplied with water at the top by removing the cork or stop per, as shown in Fig. I. \Vhen it is desired to remoistcn the sponge B the tanks 1) may be gently compressed, and the water will be forced out through a suitable tube, which connects the tanks D with the sponge B, and thus avoid the trouble of removing the respirator from the head.

. I am aware that gauze respirators for the face and nose, containing a sponge or other fibrous material, are of themselves old.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters .?atent of the United States, is-

A sponge-holder consisting of coarse network made of fine wire, and secured at its edges to a heavier wire or sheet-n1etal rim, to which is attached, on either side thereof, an elastic tape or wire as a means of fastening said sponge-holder on the head, having attached thereto rubber or metal water-receptacles connected with the sponge-holder by means of tubes, so arranged for the purpose of forming a respirator, substantially as hereinbefore described and set forth.

HELEN A. STEWART.

\Vitnesses:

F. D. AYER, VM. F. THAYER. 

